To all new pupils, joining the Junior School in August 2024

We want to make sure that you feel as ready and prepared as possible for this exciting new beginning. We know that you will have questions and this information pack has been designed to put your mind at ease. We hope that it is useful.

A very warm welcome to BISC. Starting a new school is always a time of great excitement with perhaps just a hint of trepidation!Remember, there is no such thing as a silly question; if there is anything further that you would like to know or need to ask, please do not hesitate to contact us.

To all parents

The same principle applies throughout your child’s time with us. Good communication is essential and we are always happy to have a conversation and help in any way we can. 

It cannot be overstated that a positive partnership between a child’s parents and their school has a significant impact on the success and well-being of each pupil. Parents are very much encouraged to maintain regular contact with their child’s teachers and feel comfortable to visit the school. There will be times when parents and children have concerns or frustrations. It is important that you make us aware through positive and constructive feedback, so that we can work together to do our best to resolve or develop an understanding of the circumstances.

Please feel free to drop by the Junior Office if you need to make an appointment. However, it is important to remember that if you have a specific concern that relates to your child’s education, you should always talk with your child’s teacher first.

I look forward to welcoming you in person to the school and seeing you at the many school events which happen throughout the year. 

Mr Johnny Egan

Head of Junior School

Contact Details

BISC is located within the Beverly Hills Compound in 6th October City, approximately 22 km from central Cairo. The School’s contact details are as follows:

If you need to contact the Junior School, at any point during the day, you could either call the School Landline on +2 0238270444 Ext 484, or on the Junior School Mobile: 01111121985

Regular Communication

Parents can email class and subject teachers, and the Junior School Office staff, directly.  

Class Teachers will answer emails within 24 hours on school days. Urgent emails and calls should go via the Junior School Office.

If you need time to discuss matters of concern, please arrange an appointment with the relevant teacher.

Parental Concerns

If you have a concern, then the first point of contact at school is your child’s class teacher. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your meeting, you should then see the Head of Year after which, if the issue is not resolved, you can see the respective Key Stage Co–ordinator. Finally, the Key Stage Coordinator will refer you to the Assistant Head, Deputy Head of Junior School or the Head of Junior School. If you still feel your concern is unresolved, then you have the opportunity to speak to the Principal.

The diagram below illustrates the escalation of concerns: 

Junior Administration Team

The Junior School comprises of two Key Stages for pupils from 5 to 11 years old.

Year 6 pupils are required to sit Senior School Entrance Assessments in the Spring Term. There is no automatic transfer from the Junior School to the Senior School. Acceptance to the Senior School is based on Entrance Assessment results, general academic performance, attendance and behaviour. In addition pupils will only be admitted to the Senior School if there are no outstanding school fees and that these have been paid according to the published payment schedule.

CRITICAL INCIDENT PLANS AND EMERGENCIES

The School has Critical Incident Plans as part of its standard procedures which are continually reviewed and developed. 

Pupils and staff are made aware of these plans and they include procedures for campus lockdown; earthquake and fire procedures; and transport accidents.  

• Should the fire alarm sound before 08:00 or after 15:10, all persons on campus should move directly to the school sports field. 
• Security will not allow anyone to enter the campus and they will sweep the building to check all rooms.  
• Should the fire alarm sound during the school day, pupils will be subject to standard fire procedures.
• Visitors in school should assemble at the Sports Field by the outdoor basketball court.

If there is an emergency, of any nature, we will contact you. We must have up to date contact details and we will ask you to complete a data form at regular intervals. Please ensure that any changes to your contact details are given, in writing, to the Administrative Secretary, in order to update our records. 

SCHOOL DOCTOR AND NURSE

We have a full-time School Doctor and Nurse who deal with all accidents and injuries.  They are responsible for informing parents if children need to see a doctor or go home during the school day. We advise you to save our Medical Centre numbers.

Mobiles: 01111121989 and 01116111257

Landline: 02 38270444 - Ext. 393 Dr Manal, Ext. 493 Dr Nancy and Ext. 494 Nurse Salawa. 

Please contact the School Doctors, if you have any questions or concerns.

Please note that we need you to inform us of any infectious medical condition your child has such as measles, mumps, hepatitis, scarlet-fever, rubella, meningitis, head lice, chickenpox etc. so that we can communicate information to the parent body if needed.

If your child has a fever, vomiting or has diarrhea they should be kept at home for 24 hours until symptoms are cleared. 

ABSENCES AND ATTENDANCE

Please email the school as soon as possible to inform us of your child’s absence at juniorattendance@bisc.edu.eg. If he/she is sick, you may speak to the school doctors, Dr. Manal or Dr Nancy, on 01111121989 or 01116111257 who can advise you the best time for your child to return to school.

We have busy terms and plenty of holidays; therefore please do not take your child out of school over and above the holidays already scheduled. BISC’s policy on attendance, which is viewable on our website, requires 95% attendance during any academic year, failing which the pupil might be required to repeat the academic year, or BISC may require withdrawal of the pupil from the school. 

Letters will be sent regularly to parents of children whose attendance or punctuality are causing concern.

PUNCTUALITY

Lessons start at 08:00 prompt every day, therefore children should be ready on campus at 7.55am at the latest to learn in their classrooms punctually.

If a child has a valid reason for arriving late, this must be communicated by a parent to juniorattendance@bisc.edu.eg 

Children arriving late should report to the Junior School Office before going to their classroom.

EQUIPMENT

Children should not bring toys, games or electronic items, unless specifically asked for by their teacher.

Mobile phones, smartwatches and money are not allowed in the Junior School.

LOST PROPERTY ROOM

Please ensure all your child’s clothes, school caps and PE Kit are clearly labelled with your child’s name. Please see the BISC uniform requirements under the ‘Uniform’ section of the Parent Handbook.

BISC has a Lost Property Room (open daily), where lost items are stored. This is located in a room in the BlackBox Theatre area.  The School cannot be responsible for items of clothing that go missing.  

Children are only permitted to visit if accompanied by a parent or an adult.

PLAY TIMES

The school has high quality, safe, interactive play facilities, specially designed for the different age ranges within the Junior School. In Key Stages 1 and 2 there is a morning break time, afternoon brain break, as well as a 40 minute lunch break. We have teachers, teaching assistants and support staff who work together to ensure the pupils’ safety. There are rules concerning appropriate behaviour and we ensure that the children play in as safe an environment as possible. 

Please provide your child with a school hat so that they can play outside in periods of sunny weather. 

We have a ‘No hat, No play’ Policy: If children don’t have a hat they will be asked to stay in the shade.

If it is too hot to play outside, we will ask the children to stay indoors.

SAFE AND HEALTHY NUTRITION AT BISC

BISC is committed to promoting healthy nutrition. The School regards a healthy diet as a most important educational issue, fundamentally linked to pupils’ life-long health and safety. 

Pupils are allocated a time for a snack in the morning and afternoon. Parents are encouraged to send their children to school with healthy snacks. Some ideas for this are listed below.

Children in Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) are able to/permitted to have a school lunch in the cafeteria or they can opt to bring a packed lunch from home. Termly coupons for the school lunches can be purchased from Basma in the School Business Office and the children use these in exchange for their lunch in the cafeteria. Money is not accepted in the School Cafeteria. Email: Basma.Said@bisc.edu.eg Landline: 02 38270422

REGULAR HYDRATION

All pupils should bring a filled, named water bottle to school each day. All pupils are required to bring their water bottles to the classroom, PE lessons and break-times. The School has water dispensers to allow children to refill their water bottles.

Water bottles are essential as the school has removed plastic cups following an initiative from the children to reduce plastic waste. Fizzy drinks are not allowed. Please do not send drinks to school in glass bottles.

For a full staff listing please visit the school website at https://www.bisc.edu.eg/our-staff.html

For up-to-date information please visit https://www.bisc.edu.eg/term-dates-2024-25.html

We have a Junior School Behaviour Policy and Codes of Conduct for Pupils, Parents and Staff, which we expect the community to adhere to at all times. Good discipline is based on a clear and shared understanding of what is expected and, with this in mind, all members of the BISC Community are required to follow the code.

Behaviour Policy

EXPECTATIONS

Pupils are expected to be: Ready, respectful, and safe

        Teachers are expected to be: Proactive, fair and consistent

        Parents are expected to: Collaborate, respect and support

Full information can be found on this link: Behaviour Policy

THE POSITIVE REWARD SYSTEM 

Positive reinforcement being offered verbally by members of staff and other adults within the school community which may be supported with extrinsic rewards:

• Class dojos 
• Stickers
• Certificates
• Star of the Week 
• Email to parents
• Speech Day Awards
• Bulletin Entries
• BISC Facebook page

Class Dojo 

ClassDojo is the whole school behaviour management system. Pupils are awarded green dojos for displaying positive behaviours. All teaching staff including specialist Teachers have full access to the Class Dojo positive behaviour system to encourage positive behaviour at all times. 

Positive Referrals 

Positive referrals can be sent to Heads of Year, Key Stage Coordinators and Assistant Head and Deputy Head of Junior School for commendations.

Prize Giving Day 

Prizes are awarded annually to pupils for outstanding effort and attainment, for excellent behaviour, for sporting endeavor and for services to the school. 

PUPIL COLLECTION PROCEDURES   

Pupils can only be collected by parents and nominated carers. Pupils in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 are dismissed from the collection area benches between Gate 1 and Gate 2 at 15:10. The children travelling by bus are taken to the bus departure area. Please be prompt when collecting your child.   

Children who are not collected by 15:20 are escorted to the Quad outside the Junior School Office to await collection. 

Please note that on Thursday the Junior School and Senior School finish at the earlier time of 14:50.

PROCEDURES FOR CHANGES TO COLLECTION ARRANGEMENTS

Parents must notify the School personally about collection arrangement changes, directly to the

School Office if your child goes home by car, or to the Transportation Office if he/she goes by bus.  

This should be by email before 10:00am on the day affected. Requests received after 10:00am will not be applied.

For Bus pupils please advise:

Mr Ashraf Gad, Transport Manager, by email to: ashraf.gad@bisc.edu.eg or transportation@bisc.edu.eg

For Car pupils please advise:

Mrs Yara, Junior School Office, by email to: jsreception@bisc.edu.eg 

The Junior School Office and the Transportation Office will ensure the Class Teacher and the Security Manager receive your request. Please include in your email: pupil’s full name and class, details of new arrangement etc.

Bus Supervisors are instructed not to accept parent messages about transport changes.  

HOME-SCHOOL LINKS

We do our best to keep you informed about what is going on in school. The Parents’ Information Meetings in September are particularly important, since they provide the first opportunity for you to find out details about your child’s education for that academic year. 

Every parent has an Engage database account, username and password. The school sends notices to parents through Engage regularly.

• The school calendar can be viewed using your Engage account.
• The weekly BISC Bulletin is published on Engage every Thursday.
• Curriculum Overviews are posted on Google classroom every term explaining what curriculum work the children cover in each subject.

Through our Parents in Partnership initiative, we provide several opportunities for you to share in your child’s learning, through various organised class and school events, including:

Entry Points 

At the start of each new topic, parents may be invited into school to join their children for an ‘Entry Point’, which is a lesson or event aiming to spark interest and motivate children about the learning ahead.

Exit Points

At the end of a topic, parents may be invited into school to celebrate the learning their child has undertaken in recent weeks. The ‘Exit Point’ could be a lesson, a presentation or another type of event.

Parent Workshops

Subject coordinators will deliver a workshop to parents on various aspects of the curriculum related to that year group, how children at BISC are learning and how to best support them in their learning at home.

SETTLING INTO SCHOOL

To support your child settling into school, there are a number of things you can do to help. Help your child to become independent, by ensuring they get themselves ready for school, packing their own bags, homework and snacks in advance. Checking homework and signing the Reading Log regularly will help you to keep in touch with your child’s learning.

The school has a very thorough four week Transition Programme which is followed when a new pupil joins the Junior School.

PROGRESSION THROUGH THE SCHOOL

At the end of each academic year, children mostly progress as expected to the next year group. The exception to this would be where the school and/or parents decide it is in the best interest of the child’s development that they repeat. To be fair to each pupil, it is vital that parents support the school in optimising attendance, academic progress and/or behaviour.  

In cases where there is a concern, parents will be notified, in advance, during the course of the academic year. Please see the school’s separate detailed Attendance Policy, viewable on the school’s website, which requires 95% attendance throughout the year. Pupils’ academic progress is particularly reviewed at the end of the Key Stages.  

Children experience a ‘Transition Day’ near the end of Term 3 where they will visit their new year group.

GOOGLE CLASSROOM  

This is used to post homework, classwork and curriculum overviews throughout the year.

PARENT INFORMATION MEETINGS

At the beginning of the year Parent Information Meetings for each year group are held, to present the year’s curriculum programme. These meetings also give parents an opportunity to ask questions at the beginning of the year and receive clarification on curricular, organisational and other matters. 

REPORTING TO PARENTS

We issue reports twice a year: the first is the Mid-Year Report and the second is the End of Year Report. The reports provide information on the academic progress made by your child across the different curriculum areas.  Reports also comment on his/her social, emotional and personal development as well as specific subjects.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Parent Conferences take place in the Autumn and Spring Terms. They give you the opportunity to receive information/details about your child’s progress from their class teacher. We consider these meetings to be a vital part of the reporting process. Please try to attend these events, since they are a particularly useful means of advising you on how to support your child. You will be invited to book Parent Conference appointments via Engage.

ASSEMBLIES 

All pupils are involved in weekly school assemblies. Assembly themes are often linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, Learning Values (IB Learner Profile) and other curriculum areas. When it is your son/daughter’s class assembly you may be invited to attend; these take place on Thursdays.

BIRTHDAYS

We do not allow birthday parties in school and party/gift bags are not permitted.

If you wish to send in cupcakes on the day of your child’s birthday, please email your child’s class teacher to request permission the day before. The teacher will then ensure the cupcakes are distributed during break times. 

Please DO NOT send candles or invitations to parties with children. These should be distributed by parents. 

Parents/Siblings are not permitted to attend.

PRODUCTIONS

Productions are performed during the year as part of the Drama, Music and English curriculum. Pupils will be involved in performances for fellow pupils (eg. Assembly); larger performances for parents and community; and performances they have chosen to participate in and prepared for during After School Activities (ASAs).

MUSIC TUITION

There are a number of peripatetic music staff who offer a range of instrumental lessons on a private basis for children in Years 2-6. Please contact the Music Department if you wish for your child to learn an instrument. These are scheduled on a rota basis, where possible, in the Junior School to avoid missing the same lessons on a regular basis.

PUPIL COUNCIL

The Pupil Council is an integral part of the Junior School. Democratically elected to represent their classes and year groups at the beginning of the academic year, they meet on several occasions throughout the year to offer their opinions and ideas on a variety of matters, and plan and deliver activities that help fellow pupils and the wider community. Our Pupil Councillors begin developing their leadership skills from Year 1 onwards.

ASSEMBLY LEADERS

Pupils from KS2 are selected to regularly organise and run assemblies. This provides opportunities for several skills to be enhanced such as public speaking. The Assembly Leaders use a variety of media to share knowledge, make announcements and give out rewards such as Star Of The Week and Mathematician Of The Week.

ECO-COMMITTEE

As we are a school that strives to achieve a sustainable community, our Eco Committee is an essential part of the process. Pupils are encouraged to join and lead by example. As well as raising awareness through campaigns and competitions, they strive to make improvements by setting up new initiatives to support the Sustainable Development Goals.

PALS (Playground Activity Leaders)

​Our breaks and play times are vital for developing relationships and team-building skills. The PALS are a group of pupils selected from classes in KS2 who support inclusivity and lead team activities. They are ambassadors for the IB Learner Profile attributes and display traits which bring about a positive playtime for everyone.

WAKE-UP SHAKE-UP LEADERS

Throughout the year, various groups of children will be chosen to lead the ‘Wake-up, Shake-up’ routines in the JS Quad each morning. Sometimes this will be to showcase dances from assemblies or groups from the ASAs.

The Junior School follows the National Curriculum for England and Wales, and UK government guidelines for teaching English, Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages and Global Citizenship, to meet the needs of all BISC pupils. In addition, the Junior School also follows the Egyptian Ministry of Education Curriculum for Arabic, Religion and Egyptian social studies.

KEY STAGE 1 AND 2 CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

The school follows the National Curriculum in England through which the following subjects are taught:

• English (including Drama, Guided Reading and Library at Key Stages 1 & 2)
• Mathematics
• Science
• Arabic,Religion and Egyptian social studies
• Computing
• French (from Key Stage 2)
• Humanities: Integrated Topic in KS1 and separate Geography and History in KS2
• Design and Technology
• Art and Design 
• Music
• Physical Education (PE)
• PSHE (Global Citizenship, Wellbeing and Relationships)

In line with current best practice, cross-curricular links between subjects are made, where appropriate. In Key Stage 1, this is referred to as Integrated Topic and encompasses History, Geography, Art and Design, Computers and Science.

TIMETABLE 

The Junior School Timetable is divided into 35 minute blocks. All classes in Key Stages 1 and 2 have individual timetables based on 35 minute periods of time. Timetables are sent to parents in Week 1 and can be viewed using your Engage account.

CURRICULUM SUPPORT 

If your child is not progressing as expected, this may be due to specific language or other learning needs. BISC has procedures to assess such needs.  If judged necessary, BISC sometimes provides additional support in school from our Curriculum Support staff.  If we need an external assessment to be carried out, to provide more information, we will advise you. On occasions, it is also necessary for some pupils to receive additional specialist support, out of school. It is imperative that we have your support in such cases. We aim to ensure that all our pupils receive the appropriate education for their needs, and it is important that we work in partnership with your support in such cases. All children who receive curriculum support have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), which is discussed with parents at regular intervals.

HOMEWORK

Homework is set by the teacher as a reinforcement or continuation of the lesson.  Children in KS2 are expected to work independently, with minimal parent guidance, as this sets good patterns for the future. Difficulties with homework can be reported to the teacher via email. 

Some parental support is expected for children in KS1 to help them complete their home learning projects.

Homework timetables are posted on Google classroom for each year group.

Tasks may also be set on Century Tech.

Parents’ Role in Supporting Learning at Home

We please ask you to:

• provide a peaceful, suitable place in which your child can do the homework alone or, for younger children, together with you; 
• make it clear to your child that you value homework, and support the school in explaining how it can help their learning; 
• remind your child(ren) to check for tasks every day; 
• encourage and praise your child during and on completion of homework;
• become actively involved in ensuring your child has time and space to complete their homework, based on guidance from your child’s class teacher, but you are clearly not encouraged to ‘do’ the homework for your child;
• encourage your child to become increasingly independent during his/her Junior School years, so that he/she is able to manage his/her own time and complete homework unaided, by the time they enter Year 6;
• communicate with the class (or subject) teacher regarding homework issues (e.g. by email, letting the teacher know if there was notable progress made or any areas for concern with the homework);
• ensure that homework involving the use of the internet is monitored very carefully, so that your child does not have access to inappropriate material.
• Ensure homework deadlines are adhered to.

All pupils have a Reading Record Book. Please sign (and make a comment) to show us that you have read with your child.

If your child is unable to complete his/her homework or if a task takes too long, please email the teacher concerned directly.

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL CURRICULUM

English

Teachers will develop pupils’ spoken language, reading, writing and vocabulary as integral aspects of the teaching of every subject. English is both a subject in its own right and the medium for teaching; for pupils, understanding the language provides access to the whole curriculum. Fluency in the English language is an essential foundation for success in all subjects and daily reading plays a major role in this.

Communication and Language development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.

From Year 1 to Year 6, the main aims of the English Curriculum are to enable children to:

• read easily, fluently and with good understanding  
• develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information  
• acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language  
• appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage  
• write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences  
• use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas  
• become competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.
  

The love of reading is further developed during weekly library sessions, where all our pupils browse and choose books to take home. Stories and poems are shared and library skills are introduced from the very beginning, to enable the children to be competent and independent users of the library. We ask for your cooperation in ensuring all books are looked after carefully. You will be asked to pay for damaged or lost books.

Mathematics

From Year 1 to Year 6, the main aims of the Mathematics Curriculum are to ensure all children:

• become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.  
• reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language  
• can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.

There is a focus on mental mathematics and investigative work within the subject. Mathematics skills are also used and developed in other subjects. For example, the use of measuring equipment in Science, map skills and a concept of time in Humanities, shape and symmetry in Art and Design.

Science

From Year 1 to Year 6, the main aims of the Science Curriculum are to ensure all children:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics  
• develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of Science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them  
• are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.

These areas are taught on a topic basis. Children develop and extend their understanding of each topic through practical investigations, teacher directed activities and their own research. Children in all key stages are encouraged to relate topics to their experience of the world; to question; to develop their own hypotheses; to make predictions and to conduct investigations leading to meaningful conclusions. Whenever possible, children are encouraged to pursue further investigations either at home or at school, and to share their results with the class.

Year 6 also takes a practical Science lesson with a Science Specialist Teacher once a week.

Computing

All pupils have opportunities to develop technological skills in a meaningful context, through topic work and across the curriculum areas. They learn to communicate and handle information in a variety of different forms and for different purposes. 

From Year 1 to Year 6, the main aims of the Computing Curriculum are to ensure all children:

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation  
• can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems  
• can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems  
• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

Within each key stage, the children are given access to age-appropriate software and audiovisual resources. The school is equipped with interactive whiteboards and computers in classrooms and specialist areas. Year 3-6 Pupils are expected to bring their own iPads to school to be used in lessons under the direction of the teacher. These should be housed in a robust case and be password protected. A SIM card is not permitted (as per the User Agreement) as the school has its own safe Wi-Fi connection.  

Humanities

From Year 1 to Year 6, the main aims of the Humanities Curriculum are to ensure all children:

• develop knowledge of the location of globally significant places 
• understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world
• are competent in the geographical skills 
• know and understand how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world  
• know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world
• understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections
• understand the methods of historical enquiry
• are aware of the Fundamental British Values
• gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history

From Year 1 onwards, History and Geography are through projects/units of work, by integrating the curriculum under one theme. This enables the children’s learning to be meaningful and taught within a context.

Art and Design

• From Year 1 to Year 6, the main aims of the Art and Design Curriculum are to ensure all children:

  • produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences  
  • become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques 
  • evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design  
  • know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Design and Technology

• Design and Technology is being further developed in the Junior School over the course of this year.  The main aims of the Design and Technology Curriculum are to ensure all children:

  • develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world  
  • build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users  
  • critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others 
  • understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

Physical Education

Physical development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their coordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

From Year 1 to Year 6, the main aims of the Physical Education (PE) Curriculum are to ensure all children:

• develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities  
• are physically active for sustained periods of time  
• engage in competitive sports and activities  
• lead healthy, active lives.

Physical Education promotes positive attitudes towards active and healthy lifestyles. Pupils learn how to think in different ways to suit a wide variety of creative, competitive and challenging activities. They learn how to plan, perform and evaluate actions, ideas and performances to improve their quality and effectiveness. Through this process, pupils discover their aptitudes, abilities and preferences, and make choices about how to get involved in lifelong activity.

Physical Education includes: dance activities, games activities, gymnastic activities, swimming activities and water safety. The PE programme is taught by specialist PE teachers, with the assistance of specialised coaches and class teachers, where necessary.

Children in Years 1-6 may wear their PE Kit to school on PE days. Swimming kit should be brought in to change into.

Music

From Year 1 to Year 6, the main aims of the Music Curriculum are to ensure all children:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians  
• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence  
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.
  

Classes from Year 1 to Year 6 are taught by a specialist Music teacher. Learning encourages children to develop composing, listening, and performing skills. Creativity and enjoyment are very much part of Music at BISC and the Music Department is very well resourced. In addition, Music plays an important role in weekly assemblies, year group productions and other special events. 

A variety of after school activities are offered and there is also the opportunity for children to learn a musical instrument.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) - Wellbeing, Global Citizenship & Relationships Education

This comprises a holistic approach to the pastoral programme at BISC. From Year 1 to Year 6, the main aims of the PSHE Curriculum are to ensure all children are:

• Developing confidence and responsibility and making the most of their abilities.
• Preparing to play an active role as citizens.
• Developing a healthy, safer lifestyle.
• Aware of the Fundamental British Values
• Given opportunities to apply the BISC Learning Values (IB Learner Profile) attributes
• Developing good relationships and respecting the differences between people.

This year the Relationships education (Primary) curriculum will be contextually implemented. Our goal is to continue to strive towards our school Mission and Vision, embedded by the IB Learner Profile, encapsulated by being a Unicef’s Rights Respecting School whilst covering the personal social health and economic education( PSHE).

The topics addressed are diverse, for example: money and the concept of saving; social institutions affecting our lives; types of rights and duties; how to deal with our emotions in positive ways; how the media presents information; why and how rules and laws are made and enforced, and what can improve or harm the local environment. Most of the content of the Global Citizenship curriculum naturally contains material and ideas to provoke personal, moral, social and cultural debate and many children will have opinions which differ from one another. Being an international school we welcome the views of all our pupils and aim to deepen their understanding, both of themselves and of the diversity of mankind, in a nurturing and supportive environment.

Languages

By the time your child moves on to the Senior School at BISC, he/she will have had an opportunity to develop skills and understanding in three languages: English, Arabic and French. 

Within the international context of BISC, we acknowledge that language competence and intercultural understanding are not optional extras, but are an essential part of being a global citizen. Language skills are a vital means of improving understanding between people, both in Egypt and the wider world. 

The main aims of our Languages Curriculum are to ensure all children:

• understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
• speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation  
• can write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt  
• discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied.

Arabic

Arabic is taught to all pupils in the Junior School from FS1. 

The Arabic curriculum (including Religious Education -Islam) follows the Egyptian Ministry of Education curriculum.

Years 1-4 Arabic curriculum consists of Arabic lessons and Religion.

Years 5 & 6 Arabic curriculum consists of Arabic lessons, Religion and Social Studies.

French

Pupils from Year 3 upwards are taught French. From Years 3-5, pupils complete a curriculum based on the UK Key Stage 2 Framework for languages. The course offers a blend of interactive teaching and learning styles designed to develop children's creativity. The latest multimedia resources are combined with activities such as song and rhyme, story-telling, games and role-plays to engage and motivate pupils with an emphasis on accessibility and fun. 

In Year 6, children combine a rigorous approach to independent learning and grammar progression with a range of interactive resources. Assessment for Learning is an integral part of the course, allowing pupils to keep track of their progress as they prepare for Senior School.

Drama

Although Drama falls under the umbrella of ‘Speaking and Listening’ within the English curriculum, it is taught as a discrete subject in Key Stages 1 and 2.  

Drama provides a meaningful context for all pupils to experiment in role with language for different purposes and to further understand what they hear when gesture, sign, facial expression and other symbols are used. Drama requires pupils to communicate, cooperate and collaborate. It fosters creativity and thinking skills, raising pupils’ self-esteem and confidence through self-expression. The pupils work on improvised and scripted drama and this provides a strong stimulus for writing. By writing from the point of view of a particular character (writing in role) pupils are able to express their understanding of the roles, events or situations they have experienced. 

ASSESSMENT

BISC uses a vast range of assessment strategies, including regular written assessments, observations, pupil voice and standardised testing to help teachers plan future lessons and to monitor your child’s progress. 

BISC uses Progress Tests in English and Maths from Years 2-6 as formal End of Year Assessments in English and Maths. The data from these assessments allow us to measure the progress each child makes and identify the next steps in each child’s learning journey. We do not publish the results of these assessments. Instead, we analyse the results of each child to identify which aspect of the subject they need to learn next. 

Reading for comprehension (English) and Power Maths end of unit assessments are completed and pupils attainment and progress is monitored. Teachers also keep records of the extent to which your child has achieved the learning objectives of lessons.

INTERVENTION AND ENRICHMENT

Every half term, Teachers review assessment data. Intervention groups and enrichment groups are then established to provide extra support or extra enrichment activities. These are proven to be very effective in raising levels across the curriculum.

FEEDBACK 

Feedback can be given by the teacher/adult, peer and/or by self. Furthermore, it can be in different mediums, such as: written, verbal and non-verbal. All mediums are significant, for example, a strength of verbal feedback is that it is instantaneous. Teachers offer written feedback in books that is:

• Positive
• Critical
• Relevant, and
• Timely

Time for reflection is given so pupils understand the extent to which he/she has achieved the learning objective. Teachers also give targets to pupils, so they know how to improve and understand the next steps in their learning.

The children are regularly required to self-assess and peer-assess. Being able to do this requires the children to apply the learning they have undertaken. It also gives them greater ownership of the targets they need to focus on next.

BISC JS also acknowledges and rewards your child’s effort in various ways, including Class Dojo points, stickers, Star of the Week and house points.

EXTENSION AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

The curriculum at BISC is extended and enhanced in a variety of different ways:

Educational Trips are an integral part of the curriculum and are linked to planned units of study. Trips range from one day excursions to residential trips. We require your permission to take your child out of school and will send you letters to obtain this.

Special Events are held throughout the year, in order to further enhance the curriculum. Events include: an annual Book Week, STEM Week (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Kindness Week and Creative Arts Week; as well as Sports Days, Music and Drama productions and special themed days and House events.

Parents can buy school uniforms on site from Sunday 4th August 2024. The uniform shop will be open from Sunday - Thursday, between 09:00 - 16:00. The uniform shop is located next to the Cafeteria building.

WINTER UNIFORM

Year 1 to Year 6 Winter Uniform Details:

JEWELLERY

No jewellery is to be worn apart from stud earrings for girls. However, for PE lessons these should be removed for safety purposes.  Make-up and coloured nail varnish should not be worn. Hair must be tied back.

SHOES

School shoes should be black leather polishable shoes. If you purchase lace-up shoes for your child, please ensure they can tie these themselves.

SUMMER UNIFORM

Year 1 to Year 6 Summer Uniform Details: